5 bikini-body foods

Weight Loss

5 bikini-body foods

With spring in the air and summer just around the corner many of us are starting to feel the pressure of shedding our winter pounds and getting bikini-body ready.

It’s time to rev up your metabolic engine and burn your belly fat. Thankfully, there are a few nutritional superstar foods that can help to fill you up and help the needle on your bathroom scale move in the right direction.

1. Water While it’s not technically a food, water is key to slimming down. There is no way around it – if you want to flatten your stomach you must be hydrated. Consuming at least 1.5 litres of water per day will quickly help you lose inches and will also optimize digestion.

Try adding some fresh lemons or limes to your water to take advantage of their natural astringent effects. You can also consider adding chlorophyll to your water for a boost of minerals. Much like lemons, chlorophyll is responsible for purifying our blood and providing our liver with a light detox.

2. Colourful vegetablesColourful vegetables, such as baby carrots, leafy greens, cucumbers, zucchini, mushrooms and broccoli, are low in calories and filled to the brim with vitamins and minerals. Whether you eat them raw, barbecued or steamed, colourful vegetables are considered “free foods” and can be consumed whenever you like.

3. Lean proteinsProteins trigger the hormone glucagon, which has a fat-burning effect. They also help fill you up and can help repair muscle tissues post-workout.

4. Healthy fatsWhen it comes to weight loss and losing belly fat you don’t have to be scared of consuming fats. However, you do need to choose the right types of fats. The big “no-nos” are saturated fats (which are found in full fat cheese and excess amounts of red meat) and trans fatty acids (which are found in processed foods).

The good fats that will help you lose weight are monounsaturated fats, such as those found in avocados, almonds, olive oil and seeds, and omega-3 fats, such as those found in cold-water fish, fish oils, walnuts and flaxseeds. Research is very clear that eating these good fats will help to keep your weight down, your heart healthy and inflammation at bay.

5. FruitsWhile added sugars promote insulin secretion, fatigue and weight gain, natural sugars, like those found in fruit, do not. And while some weight-loss programs recommend avoiding fruits altogether, it’s really not necessary. Eating lower glycemic index fruits, such as berries, apples and grapefruit, is the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth naturally.

• Watch your nighttime eating patterns. Too many people start their days off well, but do not finish them so well. If you’re craving food after dinner, enjoy a cup of tea, some cut-up vegetables, five almonds or one to two Skinnychews.

• Move it! Cardiovascular exercise is king when it comes to burning excess fat. Whether it is fast walking or running, exercising at least four times per week for 20 minutes or more is recommended.

Joey Shulman is the founder of the Shulman Weight Loss Clinic and the creator of Skinnychews. For more information, please visit drjoey.com.